Dan Dye Designs

Argentium Man's Ring with Turquoise - Sold

I just finished this man-size ring that features a piece of ribbon-cut turquoise from Royston, Nevada that I bought from my friend, Andy   Brown.  Andy lives in Cerrillos, New Mexico and he mines in surrounding states and then cuts & polishes the native stone that I prefer to use.  I set the stone with a 20 gauge heavy bezel that I then notched for a masculine look.   This ring is a size 14.

Argentium Sterling Silver Bolo with Ribbon-cut Turquoise - Sold!!

Fresh off my work-bench for 2020, this is my new bolo that features a cabachon of ribbon cut turquoise.  I bought this stone last year from my friend, Andy Brown, who mined it in the Hachita Mountains of southern New Mexico.  He calls this a ribbon cut because the seam of turquoise goes across the surface of the stone like a colorful ribbon.  I decided to use the antique brown 6 strand leather bolo because that color is also in the surrounding matrix of the stone.  I made the tips to look like rattlesnakes, crawling up the tips of the bolo cord.  (In Andy's honor, since he was bitten by one a few years ago while walking home one night.  But don't worry, he's fine now!)

Argentium Sterling Silver Men's Cuff Bracelet

I designed this solid cuff bracelet to appeal to men who like classic simplicity.  It is constructed from square and round silver rods which I fused together under high heat.

Argentium Sterling Silver Bolo with Cerrillos turquoise - sold!

I got this beautiful "ribbon cut"  oval shaped cabachon from Andy Brown a few months ago that he had cut & polished from a stone that he mined in the mountains surrounding his home in Cerrillos, New Mexico.  I photographed it on a piece of the same rock which shows the vein of turquoise that cuts across the base stone.  I used tan leather bolo cord, similar in color to the New Mexico mountains and finished it with my own hand-made sterling tips!

Sterling Silver Belt Buckle

I custom made this belt buckle for a friend named Wally who's wife is named Maida.  It combines their initials in an interesting manner that just popped into my mind.   It was constructed from 4 gauge square sterling wire that I gave a hammered texture and then a bright polish. 

Argentium Sterling Silver Bolo with Ethiopian Opal - sold

This custom bolo was made especially for a long-time friend who wanted a piece with the Star of David design.  It has a  3-dimensional design which frames a trillian shaped Ethiopian opal.

Argentium Sterling Roadrunner bolo

I have a friend who lives in Santa Fe who has an occasional roadrunner visiting on his property.  He and his wife enjoy feeding the local birds, but the roadrunner prefers to find its own food. It  eats insects, lizards, snakes and other small critters that it can run down.  I made this bolo especially for Jim.  It was sculpted "hot", meaning that I made it by pushing red-hot argentium sterling silver around on a ceramic plate with my steel tweezers, shaping and fusing the metal into the bird.   It looks like it was "cast" but it wasn't!  The tips are small snakes made from 12 gauge silver wire, which are wrapped around the desert colored leather braided cord, as if they are climbing up the length. In many parts of the US, a bolo tie may look strange, but in the Southwest, they are quite fashionable!  Needless to say, Jim was delighted!!

Argentium Sterling Silver Valentine's cocktail spears

Sometimes I make something just for fun.  I like a maraschino cherry in my Manhattan cocktail & I have made several different designs over the years.  This one is in honor of Valetine's Day.  I left the point of the heart open, to hook over the edge of your glass.  It will work equally well with olives or lemon peel twists on your favorite martini.

Sterling Silver bolo with turquoise -sold

I made this bolo to feature this beautiful turquoise cabochon that I bought in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2013.  The stone measures 22 x 35mm (~ 7/8" x 1-3/8").  In the Southwest, a man is considered formally dressed when he is wearing a well-made bolo & this one should fit the bill.

Sterling Silver Bolo with Fossilized Dinosaur Bone & Variscite - sold

My design of this bolo started with choosing two different and interesting gemstones: a teardrop shaped red piece of fossilized dinosaur bone and an oval shaped green/black piece of variscite.  Both bezel-set stones originated in the American West. The sterling silver triangle of the bolo is heavily textured and has been oxidized to accentuate the texture.  It rides on a thick 6 strand braided black leather cord and has 2 handmade screw-shaped tips.  Appropriate for casual wear or for fancy, dress-up occasions.

Sterling Silver Coconut Palm Tree Swizzle Stick

I made this sterling silver custom swizzle stick for my favorite Tiki Bar bartender, Brian.  He is a Florida native who can stir up a wonderful cocktail of rum and fresh juices.  The stick measures about 10 inches high and does a great job of stirring the drink from the bottom up when you flip it over and rotate the stem between your hands.  Sometimes I create a special piece just because I enjoy making it!

Sterling silver cuff bracelet with Rhyolite & Malachite - $325

 This heavy men's sterling cuff features a central Rhyolite stone, flanked by a pair of Malachites.  The Rhyolite is found in the montains of Utah and is formed by time and high pressure from very fine volcanic ash, which is stained by iron seeping through the stone.  This Malachite is from Arizona.

Sterling Silver Men's Cuff Bracelet - $200

This solid sterling silver bracelet weighs just over 2 troy ounces and is tough enough to last you for the rest of your life.  I gave it a hammered texture to conceal surface scratches and a solid ball of silver on each end for comfort.  It looks good when worn with the opening on top or underneath.

Sterling Silver Cufflinks with Moonstone & Labradorite - $235 - sold

  Moonstone and Labradorite are both types of the mineral Feldspar and thus both have a beautiful bluish sheen that moves across the stone.  I thought that using the black and white stones in a pair of cufflinks would present a Yin & Yang motif.  The cufflinks measure 7/8" across and have hinged backs for comfortable wear.

Sterling Silver Martini Swords

Tired of tacky plastic swords through your olive or lemon twist in your Martini?  Nothing looks classier than a handcrafted sterling silver cavalry sword in your favorite cocktail.  I also use mine to spear my cherry garnish when drinking a Manhattan.  They measure 3-1/2" in length.

Sterling Silver Barbed Wire Hat Band

For the distinctive gent who is hard to buy for.  I hand-fabricate this sterling silver barbed wire hat band from 12 gauge wire and mimics a 4-barb style found in the West.  As with all my work, this hat band is made "one at a time"; it is not mass manufactured by machine.  This one measures almost 32" in length and also has a braidedbrown leather strap twisted with it.  It attaches by making a few stitches through the inside of the hat into the leather strap.  Price will vary with the silver market, so please contact me for a quote.  Thanks!

Sterling Silver Belt Buckle - $175

Sterling Silver belt buckle and keeper

Sterling Silver Belt Buckle - $175

Sterling Silver belt buckle and keeper.

Sterling Silver Belt Buckle - $190

Sterling Silver belt buckle and keeper

Sterling Silver Barbed Wire Bracelet - $175

This bracelet was inspired by the common fences in the West.  This one is made from 12 gauge Sterling wire.  I can also custom make it in heavier wire for a more sturdy look - priced upon request.  Available by custom order.

Sterling Silver "Pop-Top" Bracelet - $150

Reminiscent of chains that I made as a teenager from canned drink pop-top pull tabs.  There is one link with a slightly longer "tail" that acts as the catch without being so obvious.

Sterling silver Men's Bracelet - $145

This heavy square fits most men and has a hammered texture that I accomplished with a "cross pein" hammer.

Lapis lazuli cufflinks - $185 - sold - Contact for special order

These cufflinks have hinged swivel backs that make them more comfortable to wear.  The stones come from Afganistan and contain pyrite (also known as "Fools Gold").

Sterling silver nail tie bar - $40

This handmade Sterling silver nail measures 3-1/4" long and is patterned after a 16D framing nail.

Sterling silver concrete nail tie bar - $45

This handmade Sterling silver tie bar is 3-1/4" long and copies the design of a 16D spiral masonry nail.

Sterling silver golf club tie bar - $70

I made this tie bar to symbolize my golf game.  It is ~ 3-1/4" long and is handmade from Sterling silver and is a "driver".

Sterling silver man's V-link bracelet, $400

Custom made from 8ga and 12ga sterling wire.  Also available for ladies in a smaller version.  This is an original design that I devised in 1974 while watching Canada geese in flight formation.

Sterling silver man's ring with turquoise - $225 - SOLD

Most men have large fingers and very specific taste.  Custom designs work best.

Sterling silver cuff bracelet with Alaskan Mammoth Bone, $200 Sold

This is an example of the type of bracelet I can make with unique stones.  If you have a special stone and you would like a piece of jewelery made, please contact me and I will see what I can do.